The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-19
THE SEXTON'S FAMILY.
"A Bold Stroke Made by Them in
Branleigh.

Bramleigh people believe in blood, and
-sympathize deeply with those who have
seen better days; and 50, when a new
family appeared in town, the romance of
decayed gentility clinging even to the old,
carved, silver door plate on the front door
'ofthe humble cottage which it condescended
TO occupy, Bramleigh went out to meet if
with open hands. Ii was very rarely that
any new family came to take up its abode
an the place; and, as it was quiet, old sea
side town, where the people had either
made or inherited their fortunes long ago,
and had not much to engage their minds.
each newcomer excited curiosity and specu-
iation.
The Reveres Zine name) were blessed
with interesting faces. They came with
the June roses, weary, they said, OF the
fashionable city, with its hollowness and
shams, and took to the sweet simplicity of
country life with a grace and gladness
which was touching to behold And what
good taste they exhibited in seeking home
IN Bramlcigh!
Mr. Revere, who wore a tall beaver hat in
the most expensive state of decline and a
hne black coat trite shiny on the seams.
was somewhat of an invalid. He had a Ian
guidly elegant air, and long, white, arsto-
'Eratlc-looking hands Mrs. Revere was
s=ailow and polite, wore shawls in the house.
and was also rather delicate in health. The
two Misses Revere, young ladies of twenty
and twenty-five, had handsome, dark ewes.
were smiling, and adorned themselves, even
in the morning., with field daisies and pict-
uresque mixtures of peoples and straw.
Tney were both voted very stylish by all
1he young gentlemen in town
Miss Revere PLAYED On the o,,itor a,d
sang ''Baby Nine" seated on the doorsteps
at twilight, and Miss Tessy short for The
nesa, performed upon the piano until the
whole neighborhood rang with melody
several smaller Reveres, of the interesting
age when one seems mostly composed of
legs and sash-ribbonS, We're a trifie daring
IN their manners on week days, and not so
clean as fine in their attire. But on Sunday,
at church. they looked and behaved like
little angels, so that all the old ladies in the
neIghborhood held them up as an example to
The minister's little daughters, who had been
seen committing the enormity of PLAYING
catscradle in prayer time.
The Revere cottage was furnished with
severe ard, it must be confessed, decidedly
shabby simplicity. They displayed no relics
of their days of magnifcence, to which
Mrs. Revere was always pathetically allud-
ing. and which Mr.. Revere seemed to avoid
mentioning, as too sorrowful memory.
though he had related the circumstances of
slls life when he first introduced himself to
the chief men of the town. This was rather
"A disappointment to the ladies of the neigh
0Orhood, who made haste to call on the new
corners after hearing their history
Il suppose they saved some old china and
silver from the wreck of their fortune.
Enough" said Mrs Allen, one of the social
props Of the town, whose grandfather, an
old sea-captain, was said to have left ten
barrels Of Spanish silver dollars in his eel
lar when he died.
but Mrs. Revere says that they still
possess quite large property in real es-
tate; but that it is so tied up that it brings
them scarcely any income at ALL" said Mrs.
Trellis, the DOCTORS wife
Poor sSlls, it must be so hard for them"
sighed Mrs Allen. "What a shame it is
that those elegant girls, so delicotely
brought up so handsome and accomplished,
should be obliged to go into the kitchen and
live life so unsuited to them. They inher-
sted great deal from Mrs Revere's uncle
whose estate is not settled yet. But sup
pose poverty does not seem so bitter wben
one is sure that it will be over soon"
''Your nephew, Mr.. Tom Stratton, seems
20 be very much interested in Miss Tessy
D saw him walking with her on the beach
yesterday" said Mrs. Trolls, who saw
every thing from her windows.
'Indeed Well, my nephew belongs to
AN old family, and has a snug litt.1 fortune
w his own right already. He can well
afford to wait for his wifes inheritance"
The Reveres had been established only
about three weeks in their new abode before
the people were very much touched, as well
Ms aStonshed, by the condescension dis
played ~ the head of the house in applying
for the situation of sexton of the First Par
Ssh church. Mr.. Swan, who had filed the
place for many years, had resigned, and
was going West to live with one of his
sons.